Varanasi Airport, which currently accommodates around 30 lakh passengers annually, is anticipated to handle over 40 lakh passengers by 2028, and over 30 million by 2047. The claim was made by civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Sunday. "To accommodate the projected capacity, which is three times of the current one, a new terminal is being constructed at Varanasi Airport with an investment of Rs 28.7 billion," the minister said. Addressing a congregation in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the minister stated that efforts are being made to augment airport capacities in Agra with an investment of Rs 5.07 billion, in Darbhanga with an investment of Rs 9.12 billion, and also at other locations. "Today, three new airports are also being inaugurated at Sarasawa in Uttar Pradesh, at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and at Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh. These airports are being launched under the Gati Shakti Mission," the minister said. "We will also strive to reflect our cultural heritage at our airports. The new terminal at Varanasi Airport is inspired by the Baba Vishwanath Temple and Lord Shiva's trident, while the terminal building in Agra will be inspired by Jodha Bai's palace in Fatehpur Sikri, and Darbhanga will draw inspiration from Mithila," he further said.